Paul Kiczek's Blog (141)

Companies and research labs are working on wearable robots made to help disabled people or to make the human body superhuman. Suits for the disabled are now used in rehabilitation centers, but a day may come when they will let people take to the sidewalks, the shopping malls — and maybe…

Italian racewalking champion Alex Schwazer admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs in the run-up to the London Olympics, a potentially career-ending move that led to his exclusion from the Games.

I along with FreeWalkers David Asher and Corey Storch attended a ribbon cutting ceremony with DOT officials and Mayor Healy (shown here) last Friday to celebrate the improvements between Newark and Jersey City - sometimes known as no-man's land or as we like to call it, "Intersection Hell"…

The College of Sports Medicine in San Francisco recently reported that in a large study of adults over a 30 year span, those that reported that they ran for exercise had about a 19% lower death rate than non-runners.

This April 2012 NJ.com article tells of the grand walkway that is now available for walking. An awkward section between Hoboken and Weehawkin was completed and continues the walkway all along the Hudson. There's now miles of beautiful breathtaking walking for all to enjoy. Why not see it yourself on…

While FreeWalker walks are known more for their mix of environments, they always include a good portion of Mother Nature. Here's an article on a study that just makes sense. Allergies appear more common in environments that are compromised or limited. Not having enough contact with the natural environment is one reason more city dwellers are developing allergies and asthma. That is,…

What if the city built a huge public park in the heart of Midtown, stretching half a mile over seven city blocks? As Midtown began to creep West toward Times Square in the 1970s, a quirk in the zoning between Sixth and Seventh Avenues led to a string of towers in the middle of the block, all with public…

Now here's an interesting concept. How about pedestrian/cyclist only bridges spanning Manhattan. What about charging each cyclist a toll of $.50 each way to help support the projects. This is the brain-child of the famous transportation genius, Sam Schwartz, aka ‘Gridlock Sam.’

We completed the first semi-organized event of 2012 with a 12-mile walk from Trenton to Princeton this past Sunday, Mar 25th. With a moderate temperature but a threat of rain we had 21 walkers and one canine (Briggs Roe) show up for what proved to be an excellent day for a pretty long…

Here's an interesting case of a really serious walker. Matt Green, after walking across the country, is now dedicating his waking hours to walking every block of NYC, an estimated 8,000 miles! He's out everyday walking a different section and logging his travels.

He starts walking between 10 a.m. and noon and keeps going until the sun goes…

Volvo, the car manufacturer known for its advanced safety, is actually coming out with this air bag designed to minimize pedestrian injury if hit by a car. Looks pretty wierd to me and won't be helping save your bottom half. Opinions are all over the place on whether this is great or a terrible idea.…

Route 22 was the most dangerous road in Somerset County for pedestrians during the last three years of data tabulated by a tri-state group that analyzes federal traffic fatality data. Five of nine pedestrians killed in the county between 2008 and 2010 were struck by vehicles while walking…

Nature Valley, the folks that bring you granola bars and more, now offer a virtual walk along trails in our National Parks. Check out the interactive website http://www.naturevalleytrailview.com/ where you can pick, for example, the Grand Canyon and see…

The author of this article argues that pedestrians have lost the battle of the streets over the years. The sidewalks and the roadbed — sidewalks were not pedestrian cattle pens, but off-limits zones for vehicles. But that changed over time with the advent of trolleys, bicycles and then cars…

Kennedy 50-Mile Walk

Hudson Waterfront South Walk

On Superbowl Sunday, February 1st, over 60 walkers from four walking groups joined together to walk 20-miles from Liberty State Park to the Bayonne Bridge. This was our first "UnitedWalking Event" a successful one to kick off our new big event program.

Past Events

Tour of Brooklyn 2014 & Year End Party

On November 16, 2014 about 35 FreeWalkers followed our native Brooklynite, Renata Luisi and walked from Penn Station to Willaimsburg topping off the 2014 season with a rousing visit to the Radegast Beer Hall.

The Battle of Short Hills Walk

On October 18, 2014 about 29 FreeWalkers followed a Revolutionary War historic battle march into the Watchung mountains as well as experience other historical sites along the way.

The Origins Walk: Lenape34

On Monday, October 13, 2014,our 5th annual 34-mile trek through the wilds of Essex County will took place - a tough event to finish.

The Endless Summer Walk

In Their Footsteps

These FreeWalkers have demonstrated our spirit of determination, adventure and community and help set the standard for the rest of us. Awards were presented at the June 22nd Celebration Event. Click here to learn their personal story and what it means to be a FreeWalker.

Words to Walk By

Why We Walk
Why choose this as our goal? Why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do these other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.

-From President Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice University

Why We Don't (Walk)
Why choose doing as little as possible as our goal? Why take a long nap? Why, 35 days ago, insist on flying first class across the Atlantic? Why does Texas play Rice?

We choose to look at the moon. We choose to utter platitudes in this decade and do few other things, not because they are hard, but because they are easy, because that goal will serve to attract votes, because true challenges are those that we are unwilling to address, ones which we are willing to pass onto others, and ones which we intend to ignore.